Robles-Ugas update

By Felipe Leon
Photo: Paul Gallegos

At the beginning of the year, California Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Bobby DePhilippis of Bobby D Presents would have found it hard to believe that he could have topped his last show of 2013 where local Aaron Garcia stopped the rugged Kevin Hoskins before the six round limit. Along with Garcia’s top-notch performance, DePhilippis featured a slew of local talent in front of a sold out crowd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Diego. By the looks of the line-up for the next installment of his “San Diego Fights” live professional boxing series, DePhilippis might have done just that.

Set for Friday, February 28th, at the new home for local San Diego boxing, the aforementioned Crowne Plaza, Bobby D. Presents in association with Caribe Promotions have assembled a world-class six bout fight card that is sure to open up the 2014 season with a bang.

In the main event, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Yordenis Ugas (15-1, 7KOs) comes into town to defend his WBC interim Latino jr. welterweight title against San Diego’s own undefeated Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles (9-0-1, 3KOs) in a ten round championship bout. Ugas of Miami, Florida, by way Santiago, Cuba, is a slick boxer who Dan Rafael of ESPN.com named “a crowd pleaser” with his technical but high-pressure boxing style. The southpaw Robles, whose whole career has been campaigned in his hometown of San Diego under the Bobby D Presents banner, is coming off a very successful 2013 where he knocked out the tough Joshua Marks in four rounds in between two lopsided unanimous decision wins over veteran journeyman Adolfo Landeros. With a win against Ugas, Robles would be ranked in the top 15 with the WBC en route to a world title opportunity next year.

In the semi-main event, twenty-year old Tijuana sensation Kenia Enriquez (9-0, 5KOs) makes her U.S. debut in a flyweight six rounder against fellow unbeaten Noemi Bosques (4-0-2, 1KO). Both named as top prospects to watch in 2013 by the respected female website WBAN, the popular and charismatic Enriquez is currently ranked as the #9 112-pounder by the WBC while Bosques of Puerto Rican descent is a fan-favorite in her hometown of Tampa, Florida. The bout will mark the second of the year for each with Enriquez stopping Los Mochis’ 2013 fighter of the year Selene Lopez in the first round last month while Bosques went four tough rounds against Marisol Miranda just two weeks ago in Florida. They fought to a controversial draw which originally was announced as a split decision for Bosques. Many female boxing experts feel that the classic Mexico vs Puerto Rico match up has all the marking for an early fight of the year candidate.

In a special attraction ten-rounder, Cuban KO artist Yunier Dorticos (15-0, 15KOs) will face fellow hard hitter Hamilton Ventura (13-0-1, 11KOs) of Brazil for the cruiserweight WBA Fedelatin title over a scheduled ten rounds. Nobody believes the face-off will go the distance as no opponent has gone more than six rounds with Dorticos while Ventura, who lives in Los Angeles, has stopped all his opponents by the fourth round except for two. In this fight, somebody’s ‘0” will definitely go.

Also featured on the card will be local favorites featherweight “Tiger” Smalls (2-0-1), super middleweight Uises Sierra (4-0-1, 3KOs) and from Los Angeles Joet Gonzalez (5-0, 1KO).

“San Diego Fights” is brought to you by the Mossy Automotive Group, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, DGS General Construction and Everlast. The main event is presented by Car Czar. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located at 2270 Hotel Circle North in San Diego. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first punch thrown at 7:30pm. Tickets and info available at SanDiegoFights.com or by calling (619) 420.8866.